In the United Kingdom, problem gambling has been identified as a serious public health issue. This report provides findings and lessons learned from the pilot evaluation of the Primary Care Gambling Service (PCGS), a primary care-based service located in Southeast London. The PCGS was designed to provide consistent and holistic support for adults aged 18 and older who are experiencing harm from gambling. It was developed by the Hurley Group, a National Heath Service (NHS) partnership led by general practitioners (GPs). The PCGS is delivered by a multidisciplinary health team in person, online, or by phone for both people who experience gambling harm and their families who are affected. Funding for the PCGS was provided by the Gambling Commission from October 2019 to March 2022. The pilot was interrupted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it resumed in July 2020. Since April 2022, GambleAware has been funding the PCGS. The objectives of the pilot evaluation were to: (1) examine how each referral pathway was working and identify key enablers and barriers influencing their use; (2) explore the perspective of patients about their experiences with the PCGS; (3) identify early patient outcomes; and (4) provide recommendations for improving service delivery.

In the United Kingdom (UK), gambling is heavily advertised and portrayed as a leisure activity. Gambling-related harms are often framed as individual failures to act responsibly. This contributes to stigma, which is a major barrier that prevents people from seeking support when they experience harms. In April 2023, GambleAware launched a campaign called “Let’s Open Up About Gambling” in the UK to directly counter this stigma. The campaign sought to raise awareness of gambling-related harms, encourage help-seeking among people experiencing harms, and improve societal perceptions and understanding. This report summarizes the campaign’s strategies and approach, its key findings and learnings, and recommendations for future campaigns.

This narrative sits alongside our Theory of Change and sets out what guides the Network, what it does, and how these activities are expected to lead to meaningful change over time. It provides a clear overview of the thinking that underpins the Theory of Change.

The Network’s Theory of Change shows how collective action, shared learning, and coordinated support can lead to reduced gambling harms.

To prevent and reduce gambling-related harms in Great Britain, we are bringing together skilled and experienced people and their networks, providing backbone support and collaborative capacity, and delivering funding.

Expanding on the “What We Do” section of the Theory of Change, this list details the activities of the Network.